Join us to hear from experts in this developing industry on the latest news regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana, as well as the recently expanded medicinal marijuana program in New Jersey and its long-term implications for the state. Legal and taxation experts will also weigh in on the regulatory process, taxation considerations, and employer rights.

PANELISTS

Scott Rudder

President,
New Jersey Cannabusiness Association

William J. Caruso, Esq.

Partner,
Archer & Greiner, P.C.

Adam E. Gersh, Esq.

Shareholder,
Flaster Greenberg PC

Mary Amato, CPA

Partner,
CohnReznick LLP

George Schidlovsky

President,
Curaleaf New Jersey, Inc

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER

State Affairs Committee featuring

Senator Fred Madden, Jr.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Adelphia Restaurant, Deptford

Rutgers Business Outlook

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

8:00 - 9:45 a.m.

Crowne Plaza, Cherry Hill

VIP Reception at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce "Walk to Washington" & Congressional Dinner

New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy signed a sweeping law that will eventually increase New Jersey's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024 for most employers. One of the Governor's signature campaign promises has now been fulfilled, making New Jersey the third most-populous State in the country to enact a $15 minimum wage rate.

New Jersey's current minimum rate is $8.85 per hour, a rate that just increased on January 1, 2019 under the existing law that increases the minimum wage annually based on inflation. This new law signed this week will increase the minimum wage significantly on July 1, 2019 to $10.00 per hour. Each July 1 after that - again for most employers -- the minimum wage will increase by at least $1.00 per hour until July 1, 2024 when it will be at least $15 per hour.

We say "at least" because the law also provides that the minimum wage could increase by more than $1 per hour in any year where inflation would require more than a $1 per hour increase. Practically speaking, however, that type of increase would require a highly aggressive annual inflation rate of 7% to 10%. So, unless there are highly unusual rates of inflation, the minimum wage rates in New Jersey in the future should be:

July 1, 2019: $10 per hour

January 1, 2020: $11 per hour

January 1, 2021: $12 per hour

January 1, 2022: $13 per hour

January 1, 2023: $14 per hour

January 1, 2024: $15 per hour

After July 1, 2024, as with the current law, the minimum wage rate will increase according to the rate of inflation as established by the national Consumer Price Index.

The new minimum wage law applies to virtually all New Jersey employers. Seasonal employers, employers with 5 or fewer employees, and employers of farm laborers are given an additional 2 years for most of the changes. Those employers would see an increase to $10.30 on January 1, 2020, with $0.80 increases each January 1 until 2025, and then an increase to $15 per hour on January 1, 2026. Interestingly, this new law also makes New Jersey's minimum wage laws applicable to all governmental employees for the first time.

According to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, approximately 100,000 workers in New Jersey earn minimum wage now. Estimates are that as many as 1 million New Jersey workers will eventually be affected by these increases by 2024. Numerous States and cities nationwide have passed laws to increase minimum wage rates, including several states that are also increasing the rate to $15 per hour, such as California and New York. New York and Delaware are currently at $11.10 per hour, with provisions to increase those over time. Pennsylvania remains at the federal level of $7.25 per hour.

If you have questions about compensation practices or policies please contact Peter L. Frattarelli or any member of Archer & Greiner's Labor and Employment Group in Haddonfield, N.J., at (856) 795-2121, in Princeton, N.J., at (609) 580-3700, in Hackensack, N.J., at (201) 342-6000, in Philadelphia, Pa., at (215) 963-3300, or in Wilmington, Del., at (302) 777-4350.

On Wednesday, February 6 the Chamber hosted its Future of Camden event at Adventure Aquarium, where Camden City Mayor Frank Moran provided the keynote address, followed by two panels on "Businesses Committed to Camden" and "Camden City's Anchor - Eds & Meds."

Congressman Norcross Addresses Congressional Action Committee

On February 11, CCSNJ members attended the first Congressional Action Committee Meeting of 2019 to hear from Congressman Donald Norcross.

Network Connection Series hosts Burl. Co. Networking Lunch

On February 14, CCSNJ members and guests gathered in Medford at Braddock's for informal networking.

Wondering why you haven't heard from us? You know our staff at the Chamber loves to keep in touch, but unfortunately our emails to you and/or responses to your emails are being blocked or filtered as spam. Please ask your IT department to whitelist the Chamber's email addresses (below). If your company uses G Suite for email, please whitelist the Chamber's IP address 50.243.83.185 (
step-by-step instructions).

Research attendees and come prepared with questions.
The best impressions are the ones that appear effortless.

Approaching others too aggressively and not paying proper attention to the people and conversations around you can have a negative effect. Be prepared with questions that help you learn about others, hold mutually interesting conversations and make it easy to share what you want to about yourself or your business when it's appropriate.

Don't forget to check your email the day before to see who is attending, be prepared!

The Non Profit Development Center of Southern New Jersey will recognize nine NPO leaders and organizations at its sixth annual Non Profit Organizations Awards Celebration on Thursday, March 7, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM at The Adelphia in Deptford, NJ.

Tickets are $65 and a reserved table of 10 is $500. Interested parties can register at npdcsnj.org.

7th Annual Education Summit

Catholic Partnership Schools will be hosting their 7th Annual Education Summit on March 22, 2019 at The Westin Mount Laurel from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Wes Moore is the CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the nation. He is a bestselling author, a combat veteran, and a social entrepreneur.

Join them to hear Wes' story from the NY Times best seller "The Other Wes Moore" as he captured national attention on the fine line between success and failure in our communities and ourselves.

Chamber members will receive special pricing to attend the event. $65.
Use code: SNJCC.
REGISTER HERE.

Access to Rowan University Resources Supports Growth of Startups at South Jersey Technology Park Incubator

Collaborative Workspace is One of 10 Approved to Offer Rent Support Through NJ Ignite

The community of startups that has emerged at
Rowan University's Technology Business Incubator at the
South Jersey Technology Park (SJTP) in Mullica Hill is a microcosm for New Jersey's innovation ecosystem. Entrepreneurs from a variety of technology and life sciences sectors-including health technology, information technology, medical devices makers, and defense companies-work side-by-side as they advance their businesses. Many of the incubator's tenant companies hire Rowan University students and graduates to fill jobs and internships.

Technology and life sciences businesses in their earliest stages that are considering joining the incubator can apply for rent support grants through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's (NJEDA's) NJ Ignite Program. NJ Ignite provides up to nine months of rent support for startup businesses moving to collaborative workspaces. The funding is made possible through a combination of support from the NJEDA and the collaborative workspace, with the NJEDA supporting up to six months' rent and the collaborative workspace supporting rent for half the length of NJEDA's commitment. Due to SJTP's affiliation with Rowan University, it can offer its companies participating in NJ Ignite an additional month of rent support, totaling ten months, with seven months of support coming from the NJEDA.

Follow CCSNJ on social media so you can be the first to know about upcoming events and news, receive live updates and photos from events and programs, get the latest information on public policy issues impacting your business and access CCSNJ resources and member benefits.